Gulfport man dies in boating accident

BILOXI, Mississippi (WALA) - A Gulfport man is dead after a boating accident in the Industrial Seaway Canal. Authorities said the man and his wife were involved in a crash Thursday night.

Around 9:45 Thursday night, Gulfport Police got a 911 call from a boat that came upon a bad accident in the Industrial Seaway Canal.

"When we got there the lady who was injured, she was on the bank. They had her on the bank comforting her. They were searching for a male subject, her husband at the time. Gulfport Fire Department arrived on the scene with a dive team and our dive team arrived on the scene too," Claude Pittman with the Marine Patrol said.

The Gulfport Fire Department dive team recovered Raymond Schankin's body a few hours later. His wife Patti, suffered physical and emotional injuries.

"She had minor injuries, now she is at home. She did not go to the hospital, she's pretty shaken up about it, so we haven't been able to talk to her lately," Pittman said.

Officials said the accident happened when the couples' 18 ft. fiber glass boat struck a barge near U.S. Marine. Authorities are still trying to determine the speed of the boat, but know the victims were thrown off at impact.

"I know they did have life jackets. Whether she was wearing it I'm, not sure. No he was not wearing a life jacket," Pittman added.

The canal is well traveled and officials are still investigating the moments before the accident.

"It's an Industrial Seaway Canal. That canal goes up to Gulfport Lake from Back Bay Biloxi, they have a restaurant called The Dock Restaurant. A lot of people like to travel by boat to that restaurant," Pittman said.

Authorities are looking into whether or not alcohol was involved. The body of the victim was taken to the Harrison County Coroner. More information will be released after an autopsy is performed.